Politicians across parties visit Vajpayee the day he breathed his last

New Delhi: Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee died on Thursday evening battling nearly nine weeks of critical health at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi.

Vajpayee, who was admitted with infection in the kidney and the urinary tract and chest congestion, began to slip away from Tuesday evening. His condition remained critical for the next three days and he was put on life support.

The end came at 5:05 pm on Thursday, August 16.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited AIIMS again on Thursday -- he had visited him on Wednesday evening -- after the hospital statement in the morning said the leader had been put on life support.

Here are glimpses from AIIMS the day Vajpayee breathed his last:

05:34 pm: Former Prime Minister and Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee passes away in AIIMS. He was 93.

(Photo: ANI/Twitter)

​05:00 pm: Chhattisgarh and the entire nation is praying for him (Atal Bihari Vajpayee). We pray to the God to make him healthy soon and bless him with a long life: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh.

04:50 pm: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi and state minister Nand Kishore Yadav arrive at AIIMS to meet former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

(Photo: ANI/Twitter)

04:16 pm: Social activist Kailash Satyarthi arrives at AIIMS to meet former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

(Photo: ANI/Twitter)

03:40 pm: Congress President Rahul Gandhi arrives at AIIMS where former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee is admitted. He is on life support system.

(Photo: ANI/Twitter)

03:38 pm: BJP President Amit Shah leaves from AIIMS after meeting former PM Vajpayee.

03:05 pm: "Vajpayee ji is in the hospital and we pray for him," said Congress President Rahul Gandhi at 'Sanjhi Virasat Bachao Sammelan' in Delhi.

(Photo: Twitter | ANI)

02:48 pm: "3.25 crore people of Jharkhand are praying for the health of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I hope he recovers soon," said Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das.

02:46 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi leaves from AIIMS after meeting Atal Bihari Vajpayee whose health continues to remain critical.

(Photo: Twitter | ANI)

02:30 pm: "His condition continues to be critical," Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told media outside AIIMS hospital where former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee is battling for life.

02:25 pm: "My prayers are with him, his presence is a great power to our democracy, He is a large-hearted person. Even if I opposed him, he was very dignified about it which speaks volume. He is very generous and very forthcoming," filmmaker Muzaffar Ali told ANI.

02:20 pm: "Join the country in praying for the health of Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji," Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh tweeted

02:15 pm: "Our prayers go out for a speedy recovery of Former Prime Minister of India, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee," Communication wing of All India Congress Committee (AICC) tweeted.

02:10 pm: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Jitendra Singh and BJP Leader Bhuepnder Yadav outside the residence of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The former prime minister is on life support system at AIIMS.

(Photo: Twitter | ANI)

02:08 pm: "I have cancelled my work to visit Atal Bihari Vajpayee today. I got chance to work with him. He is a statesman like figure. We supported him when his government was falling. His pattern of work was different and not like present politics," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Kolkata Airport before leaving for Delhi.

01:59 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits AIIMS where Atal Bihari Vajpayee is admitted.

01:50 pm: Security outside AIIMS hospital and Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence in Delhi has been beefed up. Traffic has also been restricted and no new entries are being allowed inside the hospital premises.

01:44 pm: According to reports, Bharatiya Janata Party has postponed its national executive meeting in view of Atal Bihari Vajpayee's deteriorating health condition.

01:40 pm: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal cancelled his birthday celebrations and requested volunteers to not visit him as Vajpayee remains critical. The AAP leader said he would not be celebrating his birthday in view of the deteriorating health condition of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

01:35 pm: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also visited AIIMS. She had cancelled her 'gaurav yatra' to the Delhi to see an ailing Atal Bihari Vajpayee whose health remains critical.

01:30 pm: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said he would be visiting Delhi to meet Atal Bihari Vajpayee whose is on life support at AIIMS hospital.

"I served as a member of his cabinet for two years, to hear about his health is distressing. He is a great leader and to work under him was a very good experience. I would be flying to Delhi today," Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said.

01:20 pm: Special prayers offered for former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at Sakteshwar Mahadev Ashram in Ludhiana.

(Photo: Twitter | ANI)

01:00 pm: Praying for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Youth Congress Leader Shakir Khan offers 'chadar' at a dargah at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh.

(Photo: Twitter | ANI)

12:30 pm: "We all should pray for his (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) recovery. We should not forget that he is a leader who wanted to make the country strong. He wanted peace not only in our country but the whole world," National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, said.

12:15 pm: In video: Prayers underway for Atal Bihari Vaajpayee in ND Convent Public School in Lucknow.

12:11 pm: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia visit AIIMS to enquire about Vajpayee's health.

11:48 am: "Can never forget the love and affection he showered upon me every time we met," former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti tweeted after learning about Atal Bihari Vajpayee's health.

11:44 am: "He is our idol. With just his presence we got inspiration and encouragement, we pray for his health, no one can ever be like Atal ji, campaigning for him was an honour for me," Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

11:40 am: "Saddened to hear about the critical health condition of Atal Bihari Vaajpayee ji. Praying for his speedy recovery," said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.

11:05 am: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's condition continues to remain the same. He is critical and on life support systems: AIIMS said in its latest statement.

(Photo: Twitter | ANI)

10:57 am: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh visit AIIMS where former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is admitted and is put on life support.

10:18 am: Senior BJP leader LK Advani and daughter Pratibha Advani visited AIIMS to enquire about Vajpayee's health.

10:14 am: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited AIIMS where Vajpayee is admitted and is put on life support.

10:06 am: "I have been praying to god that just once I can see him give a speech again. Our family can never ever erase that image of his from our minds. I hope he gets well soon," Kanti Mishra, iece of Atal Bihari Vajpayee told ANI.

(Photo: Twitter | ANI)

09:24 am: Students of Government Ayurvedic College at Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh pray for health of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who is admitted at AIIMS and is in critical condition.

(Photo: Twitter | ANI)

09:22 am: Congress President Rahul Gandhi to visit AIIMS where former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is admitted, reports ANI.

09:14 am: According to reports, Dr Randeep Guleria is expected to visit Atal Bihari Vajpayee in the ICU at 10 am, after which a health bulletin is expected around 10.30 am by AIIMS.

Vajpayee is under the supervision of Dr Randeep Guleria who is currently the director of AIIMS. Dr Guleria has been the personal physician of Vajpayee for over three decades. A team of doctors from the nephrology, gastroenterology, pulmonology and cardiology departments is keeping round-the-clock check on the ailing leader

Also Read: Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee critical, put on life support system: AIIMS

09:10 am: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to travel to Delhi later on Thursday. She will visit AIIMS where former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been put on life support after his health deteriorated.

08:25 am: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal is expected to visit AIIMS where Atal Bihari Vajpayee is admitted, reports news agency ANI.

08:22 pm: BJP president Amit Shah has arrived at AIIMS to enquire about Atal Bihari Vajpayee's health.

07:20 am: "We are all praying for Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji's health. This too shall pass. Wishing him a speedy recovery," BJP leader Vijay Goel tweeted.

07:25 am: "My prayers for Bharat Ratna Sh.Atal ji for the speedy recovery and for his good health," BJP leader Pon Radhakrishnan tweeted.

07:05 am: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu visited AIIMS to enquire bout Atal Bihari Vajpayee's health.

12:30 am: "Concerned to hear about former Prime Minister Vajpayee's health. PM Modi's hospital visit is worrying. Seems serious. Let us pray for the great man's recovery," Congress leader Shashi Tharoor writes on Twitter.

11:55 pm: "Visited AIIMS to enquire about the health of Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji. Discussed with the medical team. Praying to God that he responds to treatment and recovers soon. Millions of people are praying for him," Suresh Prabhu writes on Twitter.

11:30 pm: Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and National Congress leader Omar Abdullah tweeted that he was praying for Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

11:02 pm: Union Ministers Suresh Prabhu, Harsh Vardhan, Jitendra Singh, Ashwini Kumar Choubey

11:01 pm: Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, BJP lawmaker Meenakshi Lekhi and Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani also visited the hospital to check on Vajpayee's health.

10:21 pm: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday visited AIIMS to enquire about Atal Bihari Vajpayee's health. PM Modi reached the hospital at around 7.15 pm and spent about 50 minutes there. This was PM Modi's fourth visit to Vajpayee in AIIMS since he has been admitted on June 11.

(Photo: AIIMS)

10:20 pm: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is critical and has been put on life support system after his health deteriorated in the last 24 hours, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi said in a statement on Wednesday night.

"Former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee has been admitted for the last nine weeks at AIIMS. Unfortunately his condition has worsened over the last 24 hours. His condition is critical and he is on life support system," Dr Aarti Vij said in a press release.